Cherry-pitting device.



N. 0. FRENCH.

CHERRY FITTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION men mars. 1915.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

arts

CHERRY-FITTING DEVICE.

naoae oo.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NILES O. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dexter, in the county of Dallas and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Cherry-Fitting Device, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction for removing the pits from cherries.

More particularly it is my object to provide a device adapted to remove the pits from cherries without cutting the skin, and from crushing or changing the natural form of the cherry.

My invention consists in certain detail, in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a cherry pitting device, embodying my invention, clasped on a finger of the operator. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal sectional ,7 view. Fig. 3 shows a vertical sectional'view,

similar to Fig. 1 but differing in its construction. Fig. 4 shows a vertical sectional end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a detail vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 in operative cont-act with a cherry and its pit. Fig. 6 shows a vertical sectional end view of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a detail horizontal sectional view of a part of Fig. 1 taken on the line 22.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a finger of the operator, preferably the index finger of the right hand.

On the finger 10 is a circular clasp. Secured to the clasp 11 either rigidly or pivotally as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 respectively, is a bar or sheet of metal 12, having an enlarged surface 18, .a curved neck 14, an eye or oval opening 15 and a small projection or tongue 16 extending inwardly toward the center of the eye 15. The cherry is indicated by the numeral 17, the cherry pit 18, and 19 indicates the hearings to receive and hold the pivoted end of the bar or sheet of metal 12.

A detail description of the various parts and the principles applied are as follows: On opposite sides of the clasp 11 (see Fig. 2) a portion of the ends are cut away allow- Specification of Letters Patent. i Patentgd N *7, 1916 Application filed August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,664; I

ing the remaining ends to pass each other from opposite directions in the same circular plane, allowing the clasp 11 to be made large or small as desired and still retain its 61113111511 form at all times to the limit of 1ts adaptability. Being made circular in form and of such metal that resists pressure when applied to its ends simultaneously or from its center outwardly but conforming to force, it becomes a resistingly conformable circular clasp.

Figs. 1 and 4 show that the member 12 is secured rigidly to the member 11 but in Figs. 3 and 6 the member 12 is pivotally secured to the member 11 through the bearings 19. This allows the bar or member 12 to be adjusted to the form of the operators finger tip when pressure is applied to the enlarged surface 13. Fig. 1 being the more practical of manufacture the principle applied can be retained through the nature of the material of the member 12 and the conformability of the clasp 11.

The eye or opening 15 (see Fig. 2) is oval in shape, with flaring sides and the large part of the opening at the extremity of the member .12. I

The projection 16, (see Fig. 7) is a V shaped point onthe inner edge of the eye and at the large end of the opening of said eye. It has three distinct relative purposes: It enables the operator to find and insert the eye in the hole made by the removal of the stem of the cherry, i. 6. should the eye come in contact with the cherry at oblique angles to the hole, by an outward or backward movement of the finger operating the device the point 16, will enter the hole sliding under the skin of the cherry until stopped by the resistance of the skin against the eye on either side of the point 16. Since the eye sets at or near right angles to the finger upon which it is clasped it is advisable for the operator to place the eye in a straight line with the pit and stem hole; in this operation the point 16, being within the cherry and under the skin forms a contact which may be used as an axis in obtaining the above said position. Should the eye when coming in contact with the pit, for

any reason take the wrong course or path,

viz. going under rather than over and around pitting device: Assuming that my device, as

described above, has been placed upon the index finger of the operator, that the clasp has conformed itself to the size and shape of the operators finger, that the bar or sheet of metal secured to the clasp has adjusted itself to the surface of the operators finger,

causing the eye to set at the proper angle most convenient to the operator, a cherry placed between the thumb and indeX finger of the other hand, the point 16 is placed in the hole in the cherry made by the removal of stem of the cherry, at this point of contact as a pivot the cherry and the device are moved toward each other until the eye of,

the device is on a straight angle with the cherry pit; the point 16 catches in under the skin lifting it up, then by applying pressure with the end of the linger on the enlarged surface 13 the eye 15 is forced into the cherry and around the pit-'by moving the finger and the cherry back to their original position, viz., in a straight line. By applying force the eye 15 may be withdrawn from the cherry, the flaring sides and ends of the eye guide it around the pit, the force applied to the resisting cherry pit causes the pit to becomewedged between the sides and ends ofthe oval shaped eye sufficiently for its removal from the cherry.

The advantages of my cherry pitter may be readily understood from the foregoing description.

lVhen my device is used in pitting cherries it proves the objects contemplated are attained as previously stated.

This device is good for a variety of uses such as hulling strawberries, therefore I do not wish to confine it to the use of pitting cherries alone.

I claim as my'invention:

1. In a cherry pitter of the class described, a finger clasp having a rectangular portion of the sides removed, allowingthe remain ing sides to pass each other in the same circular plane; a portion of the ends of said remaining sides to be curved outwardly, all as substantially set forth.

2. In a cherry pitter of the class described, a bar or sheet of metal having a curved neck and eye in one end; a pointed projection on the inner edge of the sides and at the end of said eye, and set at or near right angles in an upward direction from said eye, all as substantially set, forth and de scribed.

3. In a cherry pitter, the combination of a bar or sheet of metal having an enlarged surface, a curved neck, an oblong oval eye in the neck, a pointed projection on the edge of said eye, all on one end and a finger clasp secured to the other end of said bar, substantially as set forth and for the purpose described.

l. In a fruit pitting device, a supporting member designed to be mounted along an intermediate portion of a finger, an arm projecting from such member and adapted to be engaged by a part of the finger extending forward beyond said first member, and a curved portion at the end of said arm having an eye.

N ILES O. FRENCH.

Witnesses GEO. A. CRANE, S. C. VVELCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' 1 Washington, D. G. 

